Doctor Web virus analysts have detected the spreading of Android.BankBot.358.origin, which is aimed at Sberbank's clients. This malicious program steals bank card information, cashes out accounts, blocks infected devices and demands a ransom. Android.BankBot.358.origin could cause a loss of over 78,000,000 rubles.
Dr. Web has known of Android.BankBot.358.origin since the end of 2015. Virus analysts have determined that new modifications of Android.BankBot.358.origin are designed to attack Russian Sberbank clients and have already infected more than 60,000 mobile devices. However, virus writers spread numerous different versions of this malicious application, so the number of victims can be significantly higher. In total, cybercriminals could steal more than 78,000,000 rubles from the bank accounts of infected devices. Cybercriminals could also steal over 2,700,000 rubles from mobile phone accounts.
When following the link from such message, the victim sees the cybercriminals' website, from which a mobile device downloads a malicious APK file. To make it more convincing, cybercriminals use the real Avito label in Android.BankBot.358.origin, increasing the possibility of a successful Trojan installation upon its download. Some of the banker's modifications can be distributed as other programs - for example, software for operation with the Visa and Western Union payment systems.
Upon the first launch, Android.BankBot.358.origin requests access to the device administrator rights and persists until a user gives up and grants it all the required privileges. After obtaining all the necessary privileges, the Trojan displays a fake message about an installation error and deletes its icon from the list of programs on the home screen. Essentially, Android.BankBot.358.origin tries to hide itself on a smartphone or a tablet. If a user later tries to remove the banker from the list of administrators, Android.BankBot.358.origin activates a self-protection function and shuts down the respective system settings window. In addition, some Trojan versions also install their own lock screen PIN codes.
After infecting a device, Android.BankBot.358.origin establishes a connection with the command and control server, informs it of the successful infection and waits for further instructions. The Trojan's main goal is to steal money from Sberbank's Russian-speaking clients. The main attack vector is phishing. Cybercriminals send the Trojan a command to block an infected device with a window with a fraudulent message. It imitates the appearance of Sberbank Online, the remote banking and payment system, and is displayed to all users no matter whether they are Sberbank or another financial organization's clients. This message notifies clients of a received money transfer in the amount of 10,000 rubles. To receive the money, the smartphone or tablet owner is invited to provide full bank card information: its number, holder's name, expiration date, and the CVV code. Additionally, this malicious window cannot be closed without the input of the all required data, and the device stays blocked. As a result, a user has to confirm "crediting to the bank account", then the bank card information is sent to cybercriminals, and they can freely steal all the money from the victim's bank account.
However, at the moment this news article has been posted, the existing modifications of the Trojan have not performed full check of bank card information and have removed the block after an input of any data. As a result, the mobile device owners who have suffered from Android.BankBot.358.origin can get rid of the phishing window and use the anti-virus to remove the malicious program. For this purpose, input an arbitrary card number in the fraudulent form. The card number consists of 16 or 18 numbers. You should also specify a random expiration date from the period between 2017 and 2030. By no means should you input information of the real Sberbank or any other card, because cybercriminals will get a full access to it.
To obtain additional income, some versions of Android.BankBot.358.origin can block an infected device with a ransom message demanding that the victim pay a fine for watching prohibited videos. In order to hide their malicious activity (for example, suspicious SMS messages), various Trojan's modifications can also block the screen of an infected smartphone or tablet with a notification that some system update was installed.
Create fake incoming SMS messages.
Dr.Web for Android has successfully detected all the known modifications of Android.BankBot.358.origin, so the Trojan does not pose any threat to our users. Doctor Web specialists have sent information about the Trojan to Sberbank and continue to monitor the situation.
Over 135 million downloads—just from Google Play!


World of Warcraft new expansion mists of pandaria will usher in media interviews in recent days, a site in advance of the weekend leaked video of Swtor power leveling the new expansion in addition to a new scene is full of Chinese style, but also contains areproduce the introductory video of the Scarlet Monastery Scholomance.
In the leaked video, introduces the suspected birthplace Panda The Wandering the Isle Valley of the the Four Winds is The the Jade Forest, the scene. You can see from the swtor powerleveling screen, rich wind is not in the domestic online game.
In addition to these paragraphs introduce swtor leveling Pandaren scene, there is an introduction heavy plate Scarlet Monastery Scholomance video. As early as before, Blizzard revealed that they will have to reproduce the Scarlet Monastery, and now finally see the true face.


In the light of recent increases in sophisticated online fraud scams, banks recommend that clients play it safe by remembering the following steps.
Never save your password on your desktop.
This allows people to access your personal information, without your permission.
Resist the temptation to make your passwords too personal. Instead make use of passwords that have letters and numbers that cannot be attributed to you.
Never provide your Online ID or password/PIN to anyone.
Never write them down or share them, not even with employees of your bank. Neither should you provide your details to any website that you are not familiar with.Only provide your details when your browser shows a Secure Socket Layer. This links you directly with the bank.
Do not leave your computer unattended.
Don't move when doing your banking or after having entered your details on the site.
Always log or sign off at the end of a session.
Three strikes and you're out. For security reasons you only have three attempts to enter your PIN/password correctly before access is denied. If that happens you will have to reset your password/PINS at the nearest branch.
Be very cautious of emails that ask for passwords, PINS, credit and debit card information.
Avoid doing your internet banking in public spaces.
Internet cafes are fertile ground for software that could compromise your transactions.
Make sure no one has unauthorised access to your PC.
Be aware of where the security cameras are.
Make sure they are not trained on your PC and keyboard.Update your anti-virus software applications religiously.
Update your operating system and browser with the latest patches.
Install a personal firewall on your PC if you use a dial-up modem.
Provide details to reputable companies.
Ensure that you are using a secure shopping site, look for the lock and key security certificates online.
Lastly, use all the measures your bank has put in place to safeguard your internet banking experience.


text:
angular.module('CactusApp.createUser', ['ngRoute'])

    .config(['$routeProvider', function($routeProvider) {
        $routeProvider.when('/register', {
            templateUrl: 'components/CreateUser/createUser.html',
            controller: 'createUser'
        });
    }])

    .controller('createUser', function($scope, $location, $rootScope, $firebaseAuth, $firebaseObject, $firebaseArray, userRef, ref) {

        $scope.createUser = function createUser() {
            var user = $scope.data;
            var userReference = new Firebase(userRef + '/' + user.username);
            var createUserNow = $firebaseArray(userReference);

            console.log(userReference.toString());
            if (user.password === user.reTypePassword) {
                userReference.createUser({
                    email: user.email,
                    password: user.password
                }, function(error, userData) {
                    if (error) {
                        console.log("Error creating user:", error);
                    } else {
                        console.log("Successfully created user account with uid:", userData.uid);
                        authenticate();
                    }
                });
                function authenticate() {
                    ref.authWithPassword({
                        email: user.email,
                        password: user.password
                    }, function(error, authData) {
                        if (error) {
                            console.log("Login Failed!", error);
                        } else {
                            console.log("Authenticated successfully with payload:", authData);
                            addUserToRecord();
                        }
                    });
                }

                function addUserToRecord() {
                    createUserNow.$add({
                        email: user.email,
                        username: user.username,
                        tasks: [''],
                        group: ['']
                    });
                    move();
                }
                function move() {
                    $location.path('/creategroup');
                }
            }
            else {
                //trow error on password match
                console.log('passwords dont match');
            }

        }

    });

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Open Source VR driver development, reverse engineering and community gathering of OpenHMD.
Gathering for the OpenHMD open source AR/VR community.
We have been working on a BOOST licensed driver for AR/VR/MR hardware for platform and hardware independent use. During this BoF session we will go over the current state of Open Source VR, go over the progress we have made, and have open discussion about VR and Open Source. In our 2017 session, we even hacked together basic camera support for the Oculus CV1, have fixed up our then recent Sony PSVR driver and made plans and collaborations with other Open Source developers.
If you are interested in this field, develop games/engines, have experience with reverse engineering (USB), like Computer Vision or DSP logic, please come and hang out!


text:
61 Leonis (p² Leonis) é uma estrela na direção da Leo. Possui uma ascensão reta de 11h 01m 49.67s e uma declinação de −02° 29′ 04.2″. Sua magnitude aparente é igual a 4.73. Considerando sua distância de 514 anos-luz em relação à Terra, sua magnitude absoluta é igual a −1.26. Pertence à classe espectral K5III.

Ver também
Designação de Bayer
Designação de Flamsteed
Catálogo Henry Draper
Catálogo Hipparcos

Estrelas
Objetos de Bayer
Constelação de Leo

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Key deadline approaching for post-secondary education grant
by Herald Staff 6 days ago January 24th, 2023
Ross Richardson, president of the Houston Community Foundation, speaks last week before Houston High School seniors about the organization's scholarships that are available. The foundation offers a $5,000 annual scholarship (possible renewal for four years) and others for those pursuing medical and trades careers. Houston elementary teachers are also eligible for a financial award to assist with classroom needs. Credit: (Submitted photo)
The priority deadline for the Access Missouri Grant Program is Feb. 1, and the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (MDHEWD) is helping students meet that cutoff.
Students who complete the FAFSA by Feb. 1 are guaranteed a grant award if they meet the eligibility requirements, which can be viewed at dhewd.mo.gov/ppc/grants/accessmo.php/
Students who complete the FAFSA after Feb. 1 but before the April 1 final deadline could still receive a grant if funding is available.
MDHEWD will host the following virtual FAFSA Frenzy events to help students fill out the FAFSA and meet the priority deadline:
•Tuesday, Jan. 24 – 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
•Thursday, Jan. 26 – 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
•Tuesday, Jan. 31 – 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
Students attending a FAFSA Frenzy event can apply for one of 20 $500 Journey to College Scholarships through Scholarship Central at myscholarshipcentral.org/. Instructions for completing the application can be found at journeytocollege.mo.gov/pay/file-a-fafsa/fafsa-frenzy/.
When attending an event, FAFSA Frenzy participants should bring:
•2021 W-2 forms
•Copies of 2021 tax forms
•Social Security number
•Student and parent FSA IDs (Students and parents should apply for separate usernames and passwords at gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch before attending a FAFSA Frenzy event)
The grant is the state's largest student financial aid program and is the state's only student aid program based on financial need.
"The Access Missouri Grant helps thousands of Missourians pay for college each year," said Leroy Wade, interim commissioner of the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development. "We want to make sure as many students as possible file a FAFSA before the Feb. 1 priority deadline so they can take advantage of this program and make college more affordable."
More than 36,000 Missouri students received funding through the program during the 2021-'22 academic year. The average annual grant award was $805 for students attending a public two-year college and $2,087 for students attending a public four-year college or university, State Technical College of Missouri, or private and approved virtual school.
Maximum grant amounts are determined primarily by available state funding and the number of students eligible for the grant each year. Specific award amounts are based on students' financial need, the type of college they attend, and other financial aid they receive.
Students must file a FAFSA every year they are in school to be eligible for most federal and state financial aid programs, including the Access Missouri Grant Program.
To increase FAFSA filing in Missouri, public high schools throughout the state are competing in the MDHEWD Show-Me FAFSA Challenge for scholarship prizes, which will be awarded to one student at each of the winning schools.
The Show-Me FAFSA Challenge officially started on Oct. 1, when the 2022-2023 FAFSA opened, and ends on April 1, the final Access Missouri Grant deadline. Learn more about the Show-Me FAFSA Challenge and find the challenge tracker at dhewd.mo.gov/ppc/fafsachallenge.php/
Tagged: Access Missouri Grant Program, FAFSA

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Investing November 11, 2019
Prudence, Performance and Quality in Target-Date Funds
Good target-date fund performance is obviously important to participant outcomes, but so is protecting their hard-earned dollars in times of market stress.
Some weeks ago, PLANSPONSOR covered the publication of a new ERISApedia.com report exploring the correlation of market share and quality among target-date funds (TDFs).
The report suggests that there exists a "fair amount of correlation between market share and the quality of a target-date fund vis-à-vis its peers in the target-date category as measured by an industry-recognized fund scorecard." In this case, ERISApedia.com analysts utilized Fi360's Fiduciary Scores to conduct their research.
According to the study, the correlation between market share and third-party rated quality is "especially strong" in the bottom 100 target-date families by market share. In other words, none of the smallest target-date funds have favorable Fi360 Fiduciary Scores. Important to note, the research authors emphasize that, in the practical operation of retirement plans, a simple assessment of market share alone obviously cannot be used as a substitute for normal TDF due diligence. Still, they conclude, it can be instructive to analyze the market traction of a given TDF product.
Responding to this reporting, Ron Surz, a regular reader and the president of Target Date Solutions and GlidePath Wealth Management, submitted some timely analysis of his own, emphasizing the need for caution when talking about TDF "quality" in isolation of a deeper discussion of risk tolerance and performance expectations.
Get the latest news daily directly in your mailbox.
As Surz has discussed previously with PLANSPONSOR, there is often a heavy weight placed on one, three and five-year performance, including in objectively generated TDF ratings. This makes sense to some extent, because risk-adjusted performance is very important to participant outcomes. But, Surz says, the "risk adjusted performance" element is often overlooked, and analysts are not necessarily concerning themselves sufficiently with how the most popular TDFs may perform in periods of severe market stress. Surz even says that many analysts "reward TDF imprudence."
An Alternative View
Surz has generated his own "TDF Prudence Score" system that, generally speaking, favors a very different set of TDFs versus funds rated highest by a Morningstar or Fi360.
What is the reason for this? Surz says the biggest TDFs have become the biggest in part because they have taken more risk relative to their peers, and they have been rewarded for doing so by what has turned out to be the longest running bull market in U.S. history. But matters could have easily turned out differently, and markets are sure to sour one day in the future. Thus, in Surz's view, TDF investors are not adequately being informed about the risk they carry in what many falsely believe to be safe or even guaranteed investments. Prudent TDFs, in his view, soberly balance the need for return with the need to protect retirement investors' hard-earned dollars, especially during the critical time period that immediately precedes and follows the retirement date.
Surz offers the following a summary of what he think fiduciaries should know about target date funds:
Beware the performance trap. Imprudent concentration in U.S. stocks has won the performance horserace in the past decade.
Protect against lawsuits, looking beyond costs. Fiduciaries want protection from lawsuits, so they choose popular TDFs, but they may be unsafe for beneficiaries. Surveys of beneficiaries reveal that they want a lot less risk near retirement than they get in popular TDFs.
Address decumulation. More plan sponsors are encouraging retirees to stay in the 401(k), probably even more in union plans.
Evaluate performance. There is no standard, but there should be.
Address demographics: The only demographic that defaulted participants have in common is financial disengagement.
Protect beneficiaries. Consider the trade-off between growth and preservation, especially near retirement. There are different schools of thought.
Choose between "To" or "Through." Absent a discussion of many other important factors, this is a distinction without a meaningful difference.
Diversify. This remains the only free lunch in investing.
Manage risk. Dr. William F. Sharpe won a Nobel Prize for the Capital Asset Pricing Model that controls risk by blending a "risk-free" asset with the global market of risky assets. Ibbotson calls this the "Separation Principal" because it dictates just two assets: risk-free and the world market.
More Tips on How to Carefully Evaluate Target-Date Funds
Surz is far from the only analysts asking big questions about the TDF marketplace and how to best serve retirement plan participants, who, given their general lack of investment expertise, rely heavily on both their fiduciary plan sponsors and on product manufacturers to look out for their best interest. Given their widespread use as the default investment in many plans, TDFs are projected to hold more than half of all retirement plan assets by 2025.
Brendan McCarthy, head of defined contribution investment only (DCIO) national sales at Nuveen, tells PLANSPONSOR it is more critical than ever that retirement plan advisers and sponsors carefully evaluate TDFs in their lineup.
"We are seeing a huge focus on the QDIA [qualified default investment alternative], with advisers employing the three R's," McCarthy says. "The first is to reevaluate the TDF. The second is to replace it if it is found to not be appropriate, and the third is reenrollment, which is a great way to get a plan back on track in terms of where participant allocations should be."
In addition, as exposed following the Great Recession of 2008, "there is an alarming amount of variation in risk composition from one target-date fund manager to the next," Newport Group writes in a white paper, titled, "A Prudent Approach to Evaluating Target Date Funds." The firm believes that prudent selection of a target-date manager must consider many factors beyond the basic intention of the strategy.
"Some managers will choose the conservative path and dial down equity exposure early," the firm says. "Other managers will consider the risk of underfunding and outliving retirement assets and will maintain an aggressive posture in their portfolios for years after retirement."
Besides the quantitative analysis of performance, there are qualitative factors to consider, according to Newport Group, most important of which is the diversification of the underlying holdings in the TDF. "Is there sufficient diversification across asset classes and sub asset classes?" Newport Group queries. "Are nontraditional and lower correlated asset classes such as REITs [real estate investment trusts], emerging markets, global bonds and high yield bonds included?"
performance, target-date funds (TDFs)
Investing | December 10th, 2020
More of the Same Expected for Rates, Inflation in 2021
Interest rates were already stuck at stubbornly low levels even before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, and the federal...
Compliance | November 24th, 2020
$17.5M Settlement Reached Over 'Too Conservative' Plan Investments
The plan's investment policy statement allegedly called for 70% of the plan's assets to be allocated into domestic fixed income...
Investing | November 9th, 2020
Asset Managers Share Initial Expectations for the Biden Presidency
One expected outcome at this very early juncture is that environmental, social and governance investing will see major advancements, sources...
« Maximum Benefit and Contribution Limits Table 2020


text:
'Journey into Europe': Reversing the paradigm
Shadab Zeest Hashmi
In a silent and quite grainy black and white film clip showing members of the extended British royal family lined up for a photograph, one is struck by the overpowering dazzle and opulence of the jewels worn by the women. The scene is from the early part of the last century and the jewels are undoubtedly the spoils of empire. Another scene, one that Anthropologists and popular-culture buffs alike are familiar with, and one that is illustrative of why Akbar Ahmed's Journey into Europe is an absolute must-read, appears in chapter one of his book: "Decked out in khaki shorts, knee socks, and solar topees, clutching binoculars, notebooks, and tape recorders, and suitably inoculated against deadly tropical diseases, they (Anthropologists of the colonial era) disembarked on the Pacific Islands or headed into the Amazon rainforest or the African hinterland. We, too, ventured forth to do our fieldwork; only our destination was Europe itself."
As Noam Chomsky has noted, Ahmed's study, which takes into account things such as Europe's 'primordial tribal identity' as well as the deep-rooted effects of Western imperialism, in addition to the flux of immigrants from former colonies- in order to study contemporary dynamics between communities of Muslims and the European countries they call home, reverses the traditional paradigm in the social sciences ("in this case, not Europeans studying African and Asian societies but an Asian author examining Europe"). This, in my view, provides the long-awaited necessary corrective, the radical shift in connotations derived from Imperialist attitudes and agendas, coining, finally, a language without which neither academic discourse nor artistic representation can be fair or go far, one that may finally make it possible to have balanced, nuanced perspectives on subjects relevant to Islam and the West.
Journey into Europe, the latest in the series of books by Dr. Akbar Ahmed and his team, employs roughly the same fieldwork methodology as the previous studies Journey into Islam, Journey into America and The Thistle and the Drone
Ahmed, who is the former Pakistani High Commissioner to the UK has had personal ties with Europe since his student days and even farther back (being the grandson of Sir Hashmatullah Khan who was honored with a knighthood for his services), led a team of four, each with a European aspect (educational/familial) to their background, for the Journey into Europe film/book project. The candid, intimate conversations resulting from the interviews conducted in the fieldwork were possible due to the team's relative ease with the local cultures as they brought up controversial and emotionally charged topics related to Muslims. Dr Ahmed's team, including Frankie Martin, Harrison Akins, Dr. Amineh Hoti, along with Dr. Ahmed's wife Zeenat Ahmed, devoted themselves entirely to the completion of this project which demanded a tough fieldwork-schedule and was subject to day-to-day changes in social scenarios, perceptions, and levels of anxiety based on current political events.
Dr. Amineh Hoti, Ahmed's daughter (academic/author/founder of the Society for Dialogue and Action at Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge) played a pivotal role in engaging female subjects in discussions about the challenges of living in the West in the present climate of extremist violence, hostility from fellow-citizens and institutions, incongruences within their own faith-communities and discriminatory government policies. The book, despite its heft as an academic work, comes across as accessible and makes a fascinating read.
Journey into Europe, the latest in the series of books by Dr. Akbar Ahmed and his team, employs roughly the same fieldwork methodology as the previous studies Journey into Islam, Journey into America and The Thistleand the Drone. The three previous studies in the quartet inform the current project on Muslims in Europe. Muslim immigrants in the West, both the first and the succeeding generations, could be broadly identified as falling into three overlapping but essentially opposed categories, as discussed in Journey into Islam and Journey into America: literalist Muslims, modernist Muslims, and mystic Muslims. With the caveat that these categories are neither watertight not permanent, we identified and interviewed individuals in each category… we divided Muslims in Europe into three categories: immigrants, indigenous Muslims and converts." Even though the backgrounds, experiences and identities of each of these sub-groups is vastly different, the results yielded that members of each category have faced discrimination or hostility in recent years: "Whatever their persuasion, literalist, modernist or mystic-Muslims faced racial and religious prejudice. They were seen in terms of stereotypes as immigrants."
From the book's analysis of perceptions based on current events, there emerges some distinguishing aspects setting apart those who are bitter, exclusivist or pessimistic and those who are hopeful and are actively building bridges (a sizeable number of Jewish and Christian faith-leaders among others). The latter are likely to recognise the apparent 'clash between Islam and the West' not as a 'clash of civilization' but as a by-product of the tectonic shifts in the global Economy and politics of the post-colonial world. One of the primary differences between the two groups is the degree/depth of awareness of the Islamic faith and the long shared history of Muslims in Europe.
Akbar Ahmed offers invaluable insights by drawing our attention not only to great thinkers of Europe and their contributions but to the details of the 'missing millennium', a transformative but brutally erased chapter of European history when Europe's Muslims initiated a legacy of convivencia or 'peaceful coexistence' enabling Western civilisation to be lifted out of "the dark ages." Al-Andalus (711-1492), while absent from Spain's history ("history books begin with 1492" as a Spanish Muslim states in an interview), is remembered as a golden age by those who have studied history beyond school texts.
Having done research on the period of al-Andalus since my own college years while writing Baker of Tarifa, I realise that even the convivenica has been taken out of its historical context and rendered contentious. Despite the common dismissals and erasures, there still exist works that testify to this rare chapter of interfaith tolerance and intellectual accomplishment in world history, European history, Muslim and Abrahamic history; a time of spiritual, intellectual and creative collaboration that we would all benefit to learn from in the prevalence of bigotry and anti-intellectualism. Ahmed generously devotes space in this book to the topic of al-Andalus, how it shaped civilisation in parts of Spain and Italy, summing up beautifully: "There is a direct, causal relationship between the ilm ethos and convivencia; one could not exist without the other." In other words, ilm or seeking knowledge, an Islamic value of central importance, necessitates a purge from prejudice, resulting in a genuine understanding and respect for the other: the hallmark of the Andalusi convivencia. This significant, 'civilising' influence of European Muslims of centuries ago ought to be better understood, honored and applied. Muslim communities would do well to dispel their anxieties and narrow-mindedness and take a keener interest in their own intellectual history; there is inspiration to be found here: "The celebrated European Universities, including Oxford, Cambridge, and the Sorbonne, were also influenced by Islamic Universities. Islamic Universities were the first to grant degrees (ijazah), and scholars have argued that the baccalaureate or bachelor's degrees, is derived from the Arabic bi-haqq al-riwayah, meaning 'the right to tech on the authority of another', a phrase used in Ijaazah degree certificates for six centuries. A university's faculty is a direct translation of Arabic quwwah, which refers to "the power inherent in an organ". Even the concept of a university chair comes from the Islamic practice of the teacher sitting on an elevated chair (kursi in Arabic) so he could be seen and heard by the students." Reminding readers literally of the origins of the language to which Western academia owes so much, Ahmed reveals a debt of civilisation not only unrecognised but also falsified. He challenges the Orientalist perceptions that persist in academia and mass culture alike, and by doing so, he demonstrates why the language describing Muslims in the West is faulty in design, how it makes further distortions possible and how those distortions have, in part, led to massive political ramifications.
The greatest gift of this work, as I say in my earlier remarks on the book, is that it teaches us the art of bridge-building across differences as it reinvigorates not only the historical ties that have been mutually beneficial to Muslims and the West in the past but also challenges the divide set thus far by the 'vertical' approach of Anthropological research – rejecting the hierarchical standards established by Western imperialism, establishing a new lexicon for the discipline, and cultivating a multi-faith, multi-ethnic, international community of bridge-builders.
Published in Daily Times, February 15th 2018.


text:
Learning from the Legends - go to homepage
The first-ever line of instructional videos targeting essential band, orchestral and vocal audition repertoire
and learn as the world's greatest performers break down each piece measure by measure
a full performance of each piece along with an annotated copy of the score
your skills by practicing with a piano accompaniment Play-Along track
Learning from the Legends presents world-renowned trumpet virtuoso Rolf Smedvig teaching Haydn's Trumpet Concerto in E-flat Major
Aspiring trumpet players can take their playing to the next level with this essential repertoire. Smedvig provides complete, detailed lessons on all three movements
Have your very own private lesson with one of the world's greatest virtuoso performers, right from your screen
Watch and learn as Smedvig breaks down each movement, measure by measure, and explains his unique perspective and approach to this enchanting piece of music
Learning from the Legends presents world-renowned violin soloist Lara St. John teaching Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 26
Take your playing to the next level with this essential repertoire for any aspiring violinist
St. John provides complete, detailed lessons covering all three movements
Watch and learn as St. John breaks down each movement, measure by measure, and explains her unique perspective and approach to this enchanting work
Mendelssohn Violin Concerto
Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with Lara St. John
Bruch Violin Concerto
Bruch Violin Concerto with Lara St. John
Haydn Concerto
Haydn Trumpet Concerto with Rolf Smedvig
Hummel Concerto
Hummel Trumpet Concerto with Rolf Smedvig
Many notable soloists and educators have watched our DVDs and we always like to hear they found them valuable. Have a look what they said about us.
Rolf Smedvig's Learning from the Legends Trumpet DVDs for Haydn and Hummel are exceedingly educational.
Susan Slaughter,
St. Louis Symphony
Lara is doing a wonderful thing with these videos and I hope they help a lot of young (and not-so-young) people. I learned a lot.
John Corigliano
Composer, Red Violin
Lara St John is a wonderful tour guide through the musical and violinistic landscapes of the Bruch and Mendelssohn violin concerti.
Mark Kaplan
Lara St. John does a marvelous job providing insight into the beloved masterworks of the violin repertoire.
Aaron P. Dworkin
MacArthur Fellow
I have no doubt that the series would benefit and provide invaluable lessons to countless young violinists worldwide.
Afa Sadykhly Dworkin
Sphinx Organization
These DVDs showcase how Rolf approached the trumpet, in particular the Haydn and Hummel masterworks.
Jeffrey Curnow
Philadelphia Orch.
These incredibly comprehensive guides… are an invaluable tool to any violinist.
Philippe Quint
Violin Soloist
One of these DVDs is like weeks and weeks of private lessons!
These are excellent pedagogical videos… they are Rolf's parting legacy for young trumpeters and their teachers.
Barry Kilpatrick
Reviewer, ARG
Smedvig's pedagogical advice is excellent… This disc would be a fine addition to the collections of students and performers of all ability levels.
Dr. Jason Crafton
Reviewer, ITG
This program of Learning From the Legends will absolutely occupy a much-needed, methodical, and all-encompassing reference for trumpeters of all ages.
Manny Laureano
Minnesota Orchestra
These instructional videos are professionally recorded and they are at the highest level. As a private teacher, I would find them invaluable…
William V. Johnson
President, WASBE
These DVDs are going to be an amazing resource for young trumpet players for years to come….
Russ Sperling
President, NAfME
Read Full Testimonials
Rolf Smedvig Trumpet Exercise Book Now Available!
It's been a couple of years since we released the Rolf Smedvig Haydn and Hummel Trumpet Concerto DVDs. One of the things that was mentioned in the DVDs is that some bonus technical exercises were included with the product. Many of you have written in to ask about these as you couldn't find them under the DVD bonus features section. Before Rolf's tragic passing he had given us a stack of hand-written exercises and notes for us to publish an exercise booklet as a companion to the DVDs, along with the beautiful editions of the concertos that are already available for free download on our website.
High Definition Streaming Now Available!
Trumpet DVD Testimonials It's been a year since we released the Haydn and Hummel Trumpet Concerto DVDs from the legendary Rolf Smedvig, and look at some of the great feedback we've been receiving: "These are excellent pedagogical videos... they are Rolf's parting legacy for young trumpeters and their teachers." -- Barry Kilpatrick, Reviewer, American Record Guide (January/February 2016 edition) "Smedvig's pedagogical advice is excellent… The value of this resource is immense for musicians of all levels.
Two New Trumpet DVDs Shipping Today!
Learning from the Legends made history in 2014 by publishing the first-ever set of classical music education lessons meant for advanced students, and the release was a smashing success! Just look at some of these testimonials we received for our Mendelssohn and Bruch DVDs from luminaries such as John Corigliano, Aaron Dworkin, and Philippe Quint. In that initial post we said that our long term goal was to "expand our line to include all the string, brass, and woodwind instruments as well as several vocal ranges.
Welcome to Learning from the Legends
Four years ago we set out on a mission based on a simple idea - to bring high quality music education into the homes of students all around the world. We recognize that music education budgets are being cut all over the world; the majority of instrumental students may not have access to private instruction, and therefore never master the most essential repertoire for their instruments. It is our goal to provide to all music students access to lessons taught by world-renowned performers of the absolute highest caliber.
Learning from the Legends enables students around the world to reach their highest potential for artistic excellence by providing access to exceptional instructional materials from preeminent teachers and performers while simultaneously providing teachers and performers with a unique opportunity to influence an entire generation of artistic minds.
Learning from the Legends will produce the first ever line of instructional videos that encompass the most essential band, orchestral, and choral audition repertoire. These lessons will be taught by the highest echelon of teachers and performers in a professional, organized, and consistent fashion. Our instructional materials will help students perfect their audition skills for the highly competitive admission processes of premier honor ensembles, universities, and conservatories worldwide.
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Hands-ons
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot Faithfully Recreates the Anime
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is not the first action/RPG to follow the life and times of Goku, but it's easily the most ambitious.
LOS ANGELES – Most Dragon Ball Z video games are one-on-one fighting spectacles, which is hardly surprising given how the anime plays out. But the series has dabbled in other genres over the years, from collectible card battlers to role-playing games. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is not the first action/RPG to follow the life and times of perpetually hungry protagonist Goku, but it's easily the most ambitious — and the prettiest.
(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
I went hands-on with Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot at E3 2019, and even though it's a little slower-paced than some other recent DBZ titles (Dragon Ball FighterZ comes to mind), I was still impressed by both the scope of the game and how much fun the moment-to-moment gameplay can be. Kakarot isn't really giving DBZ fans something they've never seen before, but they are presenting classic stories in a novel format, and that may well be enough.
First things first: Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is an action/RPG in which you take control of Goku, the main character of the Dragon Ball saga. Longtime fans will know that the game gets its subtitle from Goku's birth name, as he was sent to Earth as a baby with the expectation that he'd someday destroy the planet. It's a long story, but the bottom line is that you'll be experiencing the first major chunk of the DBZ story entirely from Goku's perspective.
Rather than just shuttling you from one fight to the next, Kakarot lets you fly around huge levels, stopping to pick up side quests and engage in optional activities. My demo was a 20-minute playground in an early level of the game. Ostensibly, my goal was to defeat Raditz: Goku's evil brother, who's taken Goku's son, Gohan, prisoner. But there was no reason to rush right to the fight. As in any other RPG, I wanted to level up and hone my abilities before a big battle.
As such, the first order of business was to fly around the map, seeing what I could accomplish. There's actually quite a bit of content, and you'll have to do a little bit of everything in order to level up Goku and his abilities. You can fly through miniature racetracks to collect Z Spheres, which will upgrade your skills. You can go fishing to get crafting ingredients. You can hunt animals (or huge dinosaurs) to cook yourself tasty meals. And, of course, you can fight random battles with a variety of C-grade DBZ goons. (In my demo, I fought off low-level androids from the Red Ribbon army. This will make sense to fans of the original Dragon Ball series, and precisely no one else.)
There are also plenty of familiar DBZ characters with whom to interact. As I flew around, the minimap notified me about various dialogue opportunities. I found the ever-lecherous Master Roshi, who gave me some tips on fighting. Baba the witch explained how Z Spheres work, while Yajirobe gave me a cooking tutorial.
More obscure characters show up, too, in order to give you side quests. My first task was for Eighter: a gentle android from the original Dragon Ball anime. He explained that a group of murderous robots was running amok, and he'd reward me with both experience and healing items if I could bring them to heel.
Kamehameha!
This gave me a good opportunity to try out the game's combat system, which bears at least a passing resemblance to the gameplay in the Dragon Ball Xenoverse titles. Goku first approached the Red Ribbon robots from a distance, but when they spotted him, the game's interface changed from exploration to battle. It wasn't a separate screen, per se – I was still at exactly the same spot in the environment. But my controls were very different, and Goku's field of vision automatically focused on his opponents. From here, it was a simple matter of chaining together melee attacks, finishing moves, energy blasts and special attacks to stagger foes, reduce their health bars and eventually destroy them.
Melee combat was especially a treat, since it managed to capture both the speed and impact from the anime. Simply tap the melee button over and over (this was B on an Xbox controller), and Goku will automatically close the distance between him and his foe, then pound the enemy with intermittent strikes. Hitting another button after a melee combo will trigger a finishing move, some of which involve more melee attacks, and some of which involve ki blasts. You can expend energy on special attacks like Goku's signature Kamehameha blast, or activate your depletable, recharging Tension meter to chain moves together more easily.
At least early on, combat is more about style than depth. Most enemies will go down under a sustained barrage, whether you simply melee them to death or work up intricate combos. It's not until boss fights where you have to really start worrying about dodging, timing and choosing your techniques carefully.
With five minutes left in the demo, I flew to the crashed space capsule where Raditz had taken Gohan prisoner. With a huge health bar and powerful energy blasts of his own, Raditz was not like any enemy I had fought before. But at the same time, the battle was just as much fun to watch as it was to play, with the two combatants zipping around a huge, open battlefield, throwing punches and ki blasts and seeming to teleport out of harm's way at the last moment.
One thing worth noting was that while Piccolo, Goku's loyal frenemy who helped him defeat Raditz in the show, was there to lend moral support, but did not actually participate in the battle. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is very much Goku's show, and you'll be in control of him the whole time.
Based on the trailers, Kakarot seems to cover everything from Raditz's arrival on Earth, up to Goku's battle with Frieza on the planet Namek. While the game is not fully open-world, there are multiple, distinct levels to explore, each one large enough to smash opponents clear across mountain ranges, just like on the show.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot will come out in early 2020 for PC, PS4 and Xbox One. While it may not redefine DBZ games forever, it's a fairly novel take on a beloved adventure that's always ripe for another retelling. Fans who have been with Dragon Ball since the beginning, especially, will probably get a kick out of the game's deep-cut lore and faithful recreations of famous fights.
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Alloy wheels, or rims, incorporate an aluminium or magnesium compound offering a lighter weight and better heat conduction than steel. Lighter wheels improve handling and fuel consumption, and better heat conduction reduces the risk of brake failures resulting from overheating. The manufacturing process allows for alloy wheels to have intricate design work that make them more aesthetically pleasing then steel. Though the bare metal finish has a sealant coating to protect the alloy, weather, road conditions and salt all contribute to wheel corrosion. Left untreated, the finish can tarnish and fade, and the wheel itself can become damaged to the point that the tire can lose air pressure.
Hose off the tire and wheel to remove any salt, dirt or other surface road debris.
Coat the tire walls in a specifically designed foaming tire cleaner. Allow the foam to set up to five minutes, depending on the amount of cleaning required.
Scrub the tire walls with a coarse-bristle nylon brush. Rinse both the tires and wheels.
Apply a nonabrasive alloy wheel cleaner to the entire wheel, and allow it to set for up to five minutes.
Scrub the wheel with your course-bristle nylon brush again. Clean around lug nuts and other hard-to-reach areas with a firm-bristle toothbrush.
Pour a cola soft drink over crinkled aluminium foil, and use it to scrub away any rust spots that remain after cleaning.
Rinse the tires and wheels again, removing any trace amounts of cleaning solution.
Dry the wheels completely with a chamois cloth.
Wait at least 30, minutes then apply an alloy wheel wax. Do not allow the wax to dry completely to the wheel.
Buff off the wax using either a dry chamois cloth or an 18-volt cordless drill with a buffer attachment.
To help prevent against corrosion, rinse road salt off tires and wheels as soon as possible.
Do not use steel wool or brushes to clean alloy wheels. These materials can scratch and damage the finish, leaving the wheel vulnerable to corrosion.


MENLO PARK, Calif. - July 12, 2006 - SRI International, an independent nonprofit research and development organization, today announced the successful delivery of its IraqComm™ speech-to-speech (S2S) translation system to U.S. forces in Iraq. To date, 32 units have been shipped to Iraq for an investigative fielding of two-way language translation between English and Iraqi Arabic. The IraqComm system will be used by U.S. military personnel responsible for training Iraqi military and police forces.
The IraqComm system was developed as part of the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency's (DARPA's) Spoken Language Communication and Translation System for Tactical Use (TRANSTAC) program, and selected for a first investigative fielding by the U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM), in support of the Multinational Force Security Transition Command-Iraq (MNSTC-I). The intent of the IraqComm investigative fielding is to capture user feedback and use the operational test results to provide valuable input on automated translation system requirements and performance expectations, while collecting data that can be leveraged by future research programs.
"Our goal is to enable mobile units operating in areas where human interpreters are scarce to communicate effectively with speakers of different languages in real-world tactical situations," said Wayne Richards, Deputy Branch Chief, U.S. Joint Forces Capabilities Division. "Additionally, USJFCOM and DARPA seek to significantly improve our nation's capability in emerging languages and dialects to include low-density languages in other potential conflict areas."
"Troops coming back from Iraq say one of the biggest problems they face is the language barrier," said Kristin Precoda, director of SRI's Speech Technology and Research (STAR) Laboratory. "IraqComm was designed to address this pressing need, providing high-accuracy translations through a very simple interface."
The IraqComm system performs spontaneous bidirectional translation, and has a vocabulary of nearly 40,000 English and 50,000 Iraqi Arabic words. The system runs on industry-standard laptop and tablet PCs. In addition to SRI's technology, the IraqComm system uses technology components from Language Weaver, Inc. and Cepstral LLC. Language Weaver is providing components of the system's machine translation software. Synthetic voice translation is provided by Cepstral LLC in both English and Iraqi Arabic. Spoken-language translation frees users from having to read the translations off of a computer screen and enables the system to be used with illiterate conversation partners.
USJFCOM is overseeing the investigative fielding of the IraqComm system. Additionally, USJFCOM is responsible for accelerating user training, development of Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs), Joint Concepts of Operations (JCONOPs), technical support for repair, replacement and system updates, data collection, mission domain development and continuous operational Warfighter Utility Assessments.
Assessment results are provided to both DARPA and the SEQUOYAH Transition Management Office (STMO) to guide the system development process. On behalf of USJFCOM, the STMO is chartered to provide automated foreign translation solutions to the Department of Defense (DOD) as part of an investigative fielding strategy.
SRI's STAR Laboratory is recognized as a world-leading speech and language technology organization. The staff, which includes engineers, computer scientists and linguists, is active in both technology creation and technology transfer.


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How Silver Dollars Won the West
There was a time in the Western U.S. when silver dollars were everywhere. And it still seems like anyone with even a modest coin collection has a couple of Morgan silver dollars. But why are silver dollars so abundant? It comes down to the perfect combination of fear, skullduggery and mountains of silver.
In 1859, Patrick McLaughlin and Peter O'Riley struck gold outside Carson City, Nevada, in Six Mile Canyon. Despite the fact that Henry Comstock did not actually own the land where the miners found the gold — he just happened to be riding through a few hours after the discovery—Comstock asserted he did. He offered to take the men on as partners and was able to successfully stake a claim. And so began the mining of the Comstock Lode, the largest silver discovery in U.S. history.
J.F. Stone, a successful entrepreneur from the California Gold Rush, discovered that the land was saturated with even more silver than gold. He sent soil samples to be tested in California, and found that each ton of soil contained nearly $5,000 of silver. Over the 20 years that the mine operated, it produced an amazing $300,000,000 worth of silver. According to the Consumer Price Index, that would be well over $5,000,000,000 today.
With such an enormous amount of silver and gold nearby, the Carson City Mint was created to transform the raw metal into bullion. From the mint's first issues in 1870 to its last in 1893, the Carson City facility issued 50 sets of silver coins. Cowboys nicknamed these notoriously tough coins "cartwheels" due to their considerable size and weight. These silver dollars were being produced at a time when coins were losing favor on the East Coast with the popularity of paper money. But folks out West did not trust paper money, preferring cold, hard cash. Or more precisely they feared that at some date in the future the federal government might not back the new paper currency and folks would be caught holding worthless paper. That fear is one of the reasons why so many silver dollars are still found out West.
To meet demand, both the San Francisco and Denver mints also produced silver dollars using silver from the Comstock Lode. Between the three mints, a massive number of silver dollars flooded the West. It's another reason why so many of them can still be found here.
If you like this article, then you might enjoy other articles in our archives, such as "Oregon Gold Country."
Liberty Coin & Currency specializes in rare coins and currency. We are a family-owned business located in Portland and Vancouver. We are also gold, silver, diamond, currency and jewelry buyers. Visit us first for a free evaluation.
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Regina hopes to host new Canada Water Agency headquarters
Cally Stephanow CTV News Regina Video Journalist
@CTVCally Contact
Published Monday, March 22, 2021 12:06PM CST Last Updated Monday, March 22, 2021 6:46PM CST
REGINA -- The City of Regina and File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council want the Queen City to be the home of the Canada Water Agency (CWA) headquarters.
The announcement was made on Monday morning that the City of Regina and the File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council will be putting in a bid for the headquarters of the Federally-owned CWA to be in Regina.
"The importance of water is ingrained in who we are, our way of life, and our livelihood," Regina Mayor Sandra Masters said. "Regina has the history, partnerships, commitment and unique advantages to lead this generational opportunity, and I am pleased to extend a warm welcome to the Canada Water Agency."
"It's not just about the economic impact or the economy and water's role in that," Edmund Bellegarde, File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council Tribal Chief & CEO, said. "It's about building good relations, it's about understanding the special relationship that exists between Canada and the Indigenous people. It's about ensuring that we are providing that good stewardship over water."
This partnership will also include collaborations with The First Nations University of Canada, the University of Regina and Sask Polytechnic.
"This is an opportunity to develop a new federal agency with the inclusion of Indigenous elders and youth as a foundational element, ensuring their voices are part of the research and future water policy will be critical to engagement, consultation, and sustainability of our precious water resources," Bob Kayseas, Vice-President Academic & Interim President of The First Nations University of Canada said.
In December, the federal government announced it was looking for public consultations to establish a new CWA.
The Federal Government said the new CWA will focus on improving freshwater management in Canada.
"Canadians want a future with cleaner air and cleaner water for their children and grandchildren," Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, said in December. "Establishing the Canada Water Agency will help to identify, better coordinate, and address various issues relating to freshwater in Canada. It's an important part of Canada's plan to build a cleaner, stronger, more resilient economy, with good, secure jobs now and into the future. I encourage all Canadians to take part in these consultations to help shape the Canada Water Agency."
The City of Regina said if it's the successful application for the CWA headquarters, it will create 100 full-time jobs and add $70 million dollars to the local economy annually.
"Our economic prosperity has always depended on water." John Lee, Economic Development Regina President and CEO, said. "Sectors such as agriculture and food have huge potential for Regina and well beyond – and they rely on sound water stewardship. Our collective understanding of water issues makes Regina the right choice for the CWA, and EDR is proud to bring the right people together to make our case."
Regina city hall is shown in this file photo (Gareth Dillistone / CTV News Regina)
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Featuring a green embroidered bell sleeves draped dress with loop work yoke. The beautiful draped dress is adorned with gorgeous floral embroidery on the sleeves. The dress is made up of lycra and georgette with stretch satin & taffeta lining and the sleeves are made up of net. This piece consists of a gown.


You will find Cane Corso dogs for adoption and puppies for sale under the listings here. However, free Italian Mastiff dogs and puppies are a rarity as rescues usually charge a small adoption fee to cover their expenses (usually less than $200). Sometimes, you may find dogs and puppies for free to a good home by an owner who may no longer be able to look after them because of personal circumstances. Advertise your Italian Mastiff Puppies for free!
Cane Corso and Black lab mix Female pups.
Purebred Cane Corso Puppies- Last one! Ready To Go!


There are often multiple training providers offering courses in any given area. However, some courses are better than others, so it's important to take care when selecting health and social care training providers.
Look for programs that fall under the QCF or the newer RQF levels or are otherwise accredited, as these are recognized to provide a certain level of achievement and understanding. Avoid unaccredited training programs, as these may be of questionable quality or may not be recognized by future providers.
Check out the components of the course, when the course was designed, how assessments take place, and whether there are any options to tailor the course to a student's needs. Make sure the course teaches the skills needed in a way that works for you, as different training programs will have slightly different courses and components, not all of which may be necessary for a particular student's goals and anticipated position after completing the program and gaining a degree.
It's also a good idea to choose a program that is convenient, providing training in a nearby location or allowing students to do their training at their own pace from home, having courses at times that suit the student's schedule and having assessments at convenient times and places. If training isn't convenient, it's harder for a student to complete the course. Some students may need the training facility to provide a creche or to make special arrangements due to disabilities or not being fluent in English.


Spoil Your Dinner - Hello!
Hello lovely readers! As some of you may have notice it has been rather quiet around here lately. I started a new job last week and that coupled with an unexpected pet emergency and Christmas has made things a bit hectic. Rest assure that this blog has not died, I just needed some time to pull things together. Regular reviews will resume tomorrow! Missed you guys!


With the pound dribble double between the legs dribbling drill, you are going to work on your overall handles, but also specifically the double between the legs combo move. In a game, you may not have the warning of a player reaching in to steal the ball, and you must go from dribbling the ball to making a quick move. This basketball dribbling drill will help with practicing having quick hands and being able to dribble the ball back and forth between your hands with ease.
Whether you ever use the double between the legs scissor move in a game or not, you are still going to be working on your ball handling with this drill. This video is going to show you exactly what you need to be looking for when you are doing the drill, and also how to maximize your handles.
Drill Goal: Develop your handles and work on the double between the legs dribble move.
Drill Tips: Stay low in a dribble stance when you do the move, don't raise up. Push yourself to not only go fast, but also dribble the basketball as hard as you can.
Drill Directions: The player is going to start with a basketball in their right or left hand. When the drill starts they are going to dribble the basketball two times and then do a double between the legs move (scissor). As soon as they complete the move they are going to repeat that pattern. Continue for 30 seconds and then switch the basketball to your other hand and repeat the same pattern for 30 more seconds.


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Q: About iOS popup asking user to continue allowing the app to use location in the background I want to ask and to get better understand about the popup that iOS will occasionally ask the user like :
"Weather" has been using your location in the background. Do you want to continue allowing this ?
How often dose this occur and how do they determine when to ask ?
And is it possible to prevent this to show to the user ?
I can't find any documentation, the only explanation i can find is from the presentation from WWDC 2014 video "What's New in Core Location".
Thank,
Pat.

A: The user has to agree to letting the app use their location.  Generally speaking the dev will only ask to use the users location when needed ie if they are searching for something on a map to compare to where they are currently.  Once the user has agreed to let the app use its location it isn't asked again.  From then on you check for updates in the users position.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The Bajaj Pulsar RS200 is out. Not only does it look fantastic and distinctive, it also seems like a value-for-money proposition. The bike is packed with features like twin projector headlamps, daytime running lamps, a comprehensive instrument cluster (comparable to or even better than the Dukes), four-valve triple spark engine that makes nearly 25PS, single channel ABS. Makes it a definitive winner, then? Not really.
Because we are yet to ride the motorcycle, we'll reserve our comments on how the powertrain and other bits feel. But till then we can see how the bike fares against its contenders just on the spec sheets.
If you are in the market for a supersport styled motorcycle within Rs 2 lakh, what are your options? For starters, the Hero Karizma twins don't even make this list unless you are on a tight budget and are a big Hero fan.
So we skip to the next option, the Yamaha R15. While the entire package resembles a big motorcycle, the R15 has everything going for it, except for maybe an increment in the power and a couple of missing features.
Then there is the Honda CBR250R, a motorcycle which was a hot seller initially but sales have now tapered off with fresh and more reasonable competition stepping in. Finally, another newly launched motorcycle, the KTM RC 200. Similar features as the Pulsar but perhaps more racy in nature. Who wins this specifications comparison? Let's find out.


It is 1am on a balmy night on the Gold Coast last weekend and I'm sitting in the VIP lounge of 'Love' nightclub. As I look across the dance floor packed with twenty-something aged dancers gyrating in time to the incredibly loud, but not distorted, doof doof, I notice the DJ is on a stage of sorts probably no more than 50cms high. 'I reckon I could pop the front wheel up that and ride onto that stage' I say to myself and have a laugh.
The leadup to this race, my final one of the year, was perfect for me. Training started the week after the Kowalski and weekend efforts consisted of 3 - 3.5hr ride duration, up to 55km in length and I tried to get in around 1000m of ascent per ride. The hills of the Oaks, Wisemans Ferry, Cascades, Nth Turra and Ku Ring Gai NP provided a good challenge and, along with a quick pre work dash around Lane Cove NP each week I felt I was ready for my first Half Fling on 4 hrs riding per week which is pretty much my maximum given current life priorities.
Wow. What an awesome day.
The Kowalski Classic was pencilled into my calendar very early on this year after sampling the lovely trails of kowen/sparrow hill last year. It didn't disappoint! Soundtrack for the morning was the new Slash album 'World on fire' which was turned up to eleven on the Kings hwy as a convoy of bike laden cars made their way to the event centre. Had a quick chat with @dicko in the carpark - nice to meet you mate.
Circus Afro, Circus Afro, Polka Dot Polka Dot, Circus Afro!
When I sat down late last year and thought about which races I wanted to enter in 2014, the 3 Ring wasn't on the list. Then I rode Wingello in December and it changed my mind, the flowing singletrack was just too hard to ignore. Unfortunately yesterday I left my climbing legs back in Sydney.
I spent most of the week leading up to this race being very low key - early to bed, low stress week at work (I even left a triple farewell on Friday night after 2 hours) and staying away from the bike in order to give myself a fighting chance against the cold I had been battling since last week and which had interfered with last weeks james estate adventures. The result was I was pretty much fighting fit today, although with no time on the bike since the last race.


The Gunnison Gorge is located approximately 50 miles south of Grand Junction. Take Hwy 50 to the town of Olathe and turn east on Falcon Road to Peach Valley Road. Arid Peach Valley traverses the rough access roads to the Gunnison Gorge trailheads.
One can day-hike, backpack and float the Gunnison Gorge. When high-country waters are inaccessible due to snow or ice, this area is usually open. The gorge is an alpine desert tailwater reached only by hiking, horseback or boat.
This section of the Gunnison was nominated for Wild and Scenic River status. The waters are reputed to support the richest biomass of any Colorado stream. Cold, clear flows and abundant food nurture large, fat trout. Browns are the most abundant salomid although rainbows are making a comeback from whirling disease.
Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area and Wilderness, covering 57,725 acres, offers a variety of geologic features. A unique double canyon system of black granite and red sandstone line the Wilderness, which is located within the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area. Just upstream lies the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
The Gunnison Gorge Wilderness offers a technical and remote experience for rafters and whitewater enthusiasts. Flows through the Gunnison Gorge are controlled by dam releases. River conditions change with every flow and is dependent on winter snow pack. Rapids range from Class I to Class IV.
Expect high spring releases of 2,000 to 8,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) in May and June. Summer flows vary from 325 cfs in a very low water years to 2,000 + cfs during wet years. Below 800 cfs, the Gorge is very technical and not recommended for rafts over 12 feet long.
Flows over 5,000 cfs make the Gunnison Gorge dangerous for everyone. Currents become very swift and whirly and eddies disappear. Swims are long and rescue difficult. Each raft must carry an extra oar or paddle, an extra PFD plus first aid and repair kits.
All guides and outfitters are licensed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Only two commercial launches per day are allowed, with a maximum of 8 guests and 4 guides per trip. Catch rates for boats range from 10-25 fish per day. Trout typically run from 10-19 inches in length, with fish of 20-plus inches considered trophies.
Transportation is provided over a rough 4x4 road to the canyon's rim. There is no road access to the Gunnison until 14 miles downstream. Everyone must hike the mile-long Chukar Trail to the river. Boats are packed in via horse or mule the day before. The total trip is just over 14 miles with camping conducted at designated river sites. Take-out is at the confluence with the North Fork of the Gunnison.
Boaters may spend a maximum of 3 nights in the Wilderness Study Area (WSA) and can stay only one night per campsite. Open fires are prohibited within the WSA. Cooking is with stoves or firepans with charcoal. Portable toilets are mandatory for overnight boaters.
Moderate difficulty. Established clay trail with sand & rock outcrops; boating put-in. Very heavy foot and horse use with limited hiker camps and a toilet.
Difficult, hard to follow trail. Steep descent down a rock face in the last 1/2 mile. Boat rope tied to tree in steepest section. Good downstream access with two hiker camps.
Difficult. Well established with heavy use. Last 1/2 mile very steep with loose scree. Stay on the north side. Good river access in both directions with four hiker camps.
Moderate difficulty. Well developed. Gradual slope with one section of steep switchbacks. Great views & good river access. Four hiker camps and toilet.
There are four foot trails into the Gunnison River Gorge. All are accessed from Peach Valley Road outside of Montrose. You need a four-wheel-drive vehicle just to get to the trailheads. Note: if the roads are wet, they may be impassible due to their clay-like composition. Be sure and pay the appropriate BLM access and camping fees. A Colorado Fishing License is required for angling.
There is an additional trail that leads from the North Fork of the Gunnison, at its confluence with the Gunnison River, upstream to the Smith Fork. Access requires crossing the North Fork by wading (at lowest flows only) or boat shuttle. Four hiker/boater camps are located along the four-mile trail with good fishing access.
There are campsites by the river which are designated for either boaters or backpackers. Be sure to reserve your campsite before you start your hike. All designated campsites are on a first-come basis. The maximum stay at a wilderness campsite is two nights for backpackers. Car camping is allowed at the trailhead parking lots for no charge. There are semi-developed campsites with overhead cover, at the Chukar Trailhead.
A 6 or 7 weight rod, 9-10' long, with 10-12' leaders to 3X is recommended, especially when streamer or nymph fishing. Bring a fast sinking line and long leaders to fish rapid, deep pools. Don't scrimp on split-shot and soft weight. Bring a backup rod and reel.
Chest waders and a wading belt are a must. A staff and felt-soled boots (preferably studded) are recommended if you plan to wade below your knees. Extra care must be taken with the river's swift currents and slick bottoms. Flows over 500 cfs should not be traversed.
Float tubes can be used in much of the Gorge to cross the river when flows prohibit safe wading. Cross conservatively way above or below sections of white water. A backup tube-chamber and PFD are recommended.
Fishing Rigs: the "Bounce" rig ffeatures a tippet with three blood knots, leaving the tags tied long. Two flies are attached to the top two blood knots and a weight to the last knot. This rig enables the weight to tickle the bottom without snagging the flies in river moss. The "Double Streamer" rig hhas a large conehead Muddler Minnow or Maratuka Minnow tied directly to the end of the leader. lA smaller black or brown woolly bugger is tied 6 inches behind the first streamer off the hook.
The Giant Salmonfly Hatch normally occurs in June when the water temperature rises to about 50 degrees. The hatch begins at the confluence with the North Fork and moves upstream. If timed correctly, dry-fly fishing with size 4 salmonflies is a kick. Sofa Pillow, Orange Stimulator and Madame-X patterns are commonly used to match this hatch.
The Gunnison Gorge contains deep pools, riffles, runs and pocket waters. Slack water pockets and eddies are prime waters to plop salmonflies. Chances are, you will float through the hatch for only a day as it moves upstream. When surface action subsides, go underneath.
Other hatches: Other important hatches are midges (winter/spring/fall), BWOs (spring-fall), caddis (spring/summer), PMDs (June and July) and the Yellow Stonefly ( June and July).
Caddis are constant companions during summer. A good selection of gray and olive-bodied caddis, in sizes 14 -16, should be carried. Caddis pupa patterns are also good producers. Dry-fly fishing with caddis is usually best in the evenings.
Pale morning duns and green drake patterns are important hatches in June and July. The PMDs emerge in the mornings about 9 AM. A light olive parachute in size 16 will match the hatch. Green drakes hatch in the afternoons and evenings. Big, bushy drake patterns work well.
The little yellow stonefly hatch is another one to match. It can be very productive due to the number of flies on the water. A size 14 or 16 yellow-bodied caddis pattern works, but a fly called the Yellow Sally is preferred. It is best fished in the slack water along banks where these stoneflies regularly take a tumble.


A school garden is a powerful environmental education tool. Through gardening, students become responsible caretakers. They have an opportunity to engage in agricultural practices on a small scale, learning about the responsibilities and impacts of land cultivation. They explore the web of interactions among the living and nonliving players that sustain life. By doing so, they develop a greater understanding of the natural world.
For many children, a garden offers the only chance to get close to nature. Some lack access to gardening spaces because of their living situations while others have limited exploratory free time in the outdoors due to the focus on indoor activities and participation in organized outdoor activities. School garden educators in urban environments frequently find their programs provide students' first opportunity to dig into the soil and watch a plant grow.
Establishing a connection with nature at an early age is extremely important. Researchers discovered childhood experiences with nature are strongly linked to adult attitudes toward plants. They determined that participation in active gardening during childhood was the most important influence in explaining adult environmental attitudes and actions and concluded that even in urban areas where green spaces are limited, gardening programs for children can provide a strong enough connection to instill appreciation and respect for nature in adulthood.


WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — My favorite Nelson Mandela story was told by Tito Mboweni, the respected governor of the South African Reserve Bank from 1999 to 2009.
Mboweni accompanied Mandela to the World Economic Forum in Davos in 1992, two years after Mandela — who is also referred to by his clan name, Madiba — was released from prison, and two years before he was elected president.
In Davos, Mandela conferred with top officials from China and Vietnam. When the conversation turned to economic matters, goes the account, Mandela defended the African National Congress plan to nationalize South Africa's banks and gold mines. This was met with polite demurral from his communist interlocutors, who told Mandela they were moving in the opposite direction and privatizing several nationalized industries.
Upon returning to South Africa, Mandela told his ANC comrades that nationalization needed to be reconsidered. Ultimately, the nationalization policy was abandoned.
The great Mandela, despite being brutally shut off from world affairs for 27 years, emerged from prison at the age of 71 with his mind still fresh and open to new ideas.
Of course, Mandela's greatest contribution is his commitment to racial reconciliation and the building of a new South Africa free from racial conflict in which all can prosper. That dream persists, but so much more needs to be done to make it a reality.
Mandela is the reason that South Africa approaches its 20th anniversary of democracy with far more hope than despair. The institutions enshrined in the constitution that was vigorously debated and promulgated from 1990 to 1994 are intact. South Africa is a multiparty democracy with a vibrant free press and a still-independent judiciary.
Yes, there is rampant corruption and street crime that bedevils life in Johannesburg and Pretoria. Yes, public education is a mess — so much so that some black politicians can actually observe that the system performed better under apartheid.
But the pluses far outweigh the minuses. The evils of apartheid are slowly being remedied. Race relations are good and without discernible tension. The country's 10% white minority has not abandoned South Africa, and the ANC government appears increasingly aware that the residual white-dominated business community is an asset to be valued instead of berated. One province, the Western Cape, is actually governed by the opposition, and its schools and health-care systems operate better than elsewhere, providing a useful model to the country as a whole.
But this comes to the nub of the problem. With a growing population of 50 million, the South African economy needs to expand by at least 5% annually to create the jobs to bring down 20% unemployment (for black youth, it's 50%). The current growth rate is barely 2%.
How can South Africa boost growth?
With its superb infrastructure of highways, railways, telecommunications and finance, South Africa could replicate the Chinese model of coastal factories to produce the consumer goods that Africa's growing economies require.
If there were an easy answer, it would have already been done. My own prescription, based on lengthy visits to the country in each of the past four years, is implementation of the Chinese strategy of low-cost manufacturing. With its superb infrastructure of highways, railways, telecommunications and finance, South Africa could replicate the Chinese model of coastal factories to produce the consumer goods that Africa's growing economies require.
Regrettably, when this proposal is put to South African officials it is dismissed. Why? Because, it is argued, the ANC governs in an alliance with the communists and trade unions, which view South Africa as a unique relatively high-wage economy. Foreign investment, Chinese or otherwise, is not actively courted.
South Africa was handed a unique opportunity two years ago when it was admitted into the BRICS, the loose association of Brazil, Russia, India, China and now South Africa. One can only imagine Nelson Mandela standing among the BRICS leaders at their annual summits. His character, his moral authority, would add so much to that disparate grouping.
Barry D. Wood was a reporter in South Africa from 1974 to 1977 and since 2010 has reported periodically from Johannesburg and the Western and Eastern Cape provinces.


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Three Generations and Counting
Christy Davidson has worked at Les Schwab Tire Centers for seven years, but it feels like a lot longer. She is the third generation in her family to work for the company, going back to her dad, Jeff James; and before him, her grandpa, Gary Brown. Christy is extremely proud to be a part of Les Schwab: "You could say it's in my blood."
Christy's grandfather started the Les Schwab family tradition in 1973 in Lakeview, Oregon. When he retired in 1997, after more than 20 years of service, he called Les "the finest businessman" he had ever met. As he recalled his career, Gary said, "It was not light work, but as time went on, I could see and believe that everything Les said and promised could be taken to the bank." When asked what college he attended, Gary used to reply, "I went to LSU - Les Schwab University."
When his son-in-law Jeff, Christy's father, needed a job, Gary knew what to do. He made a few phone calls and got him an interview with Don Miller in Eugene, Oregon, in 1983, and soon the family was moving to Eugene. Jeff is currently the manager of the Florence, Oregon, store. After working for the company for more than 30 years, he and Christy's mother are now planning their upcoming retirement.
Coincidentally, like her dad, Christy started at the Eugene store, and she now works at the Springfield store where her father was the assistant manager for 11 years. Christy's little brother Jason James recently joined the family tradition, too, in Springfield.
Christy affectionately calls herself a Les Schwab brat. "We moved around from store to store as Dad moved up in the company. Les Schwab has always been a part of my life. I am so proud to work for this company. I knew it would be great."
Les Schwab is a family-owned business, and being an employee means you are one of the family. We understand that if we ask a lot of people, we need to give a lot in return. If you are interested in joining us, you can apply at jobs.lesschwab.com.
Through 4-H, Family Forges Bond with Community, Each Other
Jeff and Donna Wiechman have been involved with their local 4-H Club in Jefferson County, Colorado, for nearly 40 years. Jeff Wiechman was a 4-H member as a child, and the couple's three daughters have all participated over the years.
"So many adults gave their time to support, encourage and teach our kids, and we wanted to do the same for others," Jeff said.
Today, the Wiechmans repay that support by donating their time and expertise to the next generation. 4-H is America's largest youth development organization, empowering nearly 6 million young people with a consistent focus on cultivating leadership skills. Its programs allow children to perform hands-on projects in agriculture, science and citizenship, all while receiving guidance from adult mentors.
For the Wiechmans, helping to foster deep relationships — both with each other and the greater community — is the most rewarding. Their two oldest girls have both spent countless hours teaching their youngest to clip, sheer and show her animals, and have gone to new members' homes to help them learn the same.
It was through Jefferson County's 4-H programs that the Wiechmans were first introduced to the Les Schwab family, specifically local employees Chris Wiggins and Josh Bryant.
"Probably the most incredible part of this program is watching business people like Chris and Josh, at Les Schwab, interact with our girls and help support their 4-H and college dreams at the livestock auction," Donna Wiechman said. "This leaves us speechless every year."
"We believe this program helps these kids grow in responsibility, work ethic and business skills," Jeff said. "The organization is such an example of generosity for this next generation that we believe it will be passed on for generations to come."
Throughout the West, Les Schwab Tire Centers is a proud supporter of 4-H Club and its educational programs. For more information, or to get involved with the 4-H near you, visit the official 4-H website.
Military Dawgs, Dogs Bond Over Barbecues
Vietnam War veteran and former military dog handler Frank Wehner understands the bond between servicemembers and their animals. "Once you're a K-9 handler, you never forget your dogs and your time behind the leash," Wehner said.
Dogs are commonly called man's best friend, but Wehner says for our servicemen and — women they are much more. "Military dog handlers and their K-9 partners have been responsible for saving countless lives of our ground troops and safeguarding our military installations around the world," Wehner said.
To show his appreciation for members of the military and their canine helpers, Wehner leads the Northwest Dawgs Project. The project travels throughout the Western United States providing steak barbecues to active military working dog handlers and their families. In 2017, Wehner and the Northwest Dawgs team will serve more than 400 steaks to K-9 handlers and their families, veterinarians, vet technicians and command staff over the course of several events.
The project hosts barbecues throughout Utah, Idaho, Washington and Nevada at military bases, including Hill Air Force Base (AFB), Mountain Home AFB, Fairchild AFB, Naval Air Station Fallon, Naval Base Kitsap and Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Les Schwab Tire Centers is honored to help the Northwest Dawgs Project serve the K-9 unit at Hill AFB in Utah.


This Valentine's Day, Thursday 14 February 2019, why not treat your loved one to a romantic meal overlooking the Ipswich Waterfront?
We will be running our special Valentine's menu, where you can enjoy a three-course meal, a glass of Prosecco or a non-alcoholic fruit punch and table service for £35 per person.
Call us on 01473 284000 (option 2) and book your table today.
If you're looking for something extra special this Valentine's Day, why not book one of our igloo-style domes? For £200 you can enjoy a three-course meal for two, a bottle of Champagne and a rose for your partner to take away. Speak to our event coordinators today on 01473 284000 (option 2) to book your dome.